269 
J.ifP, 
ARTILLERY MOBILISATION. 
BY 
MAJOR F. Gr. STONE, R.l. 
CHARTER I. 
The term “ mobilisation ” is so frequently used in a somewhat loose 
sense that it will be as well to define with some precision exactly what 
is meant officially by this word before proceeding to discuss its appli¬ 
cation to the artillery. 
“ Mobilisation 99 means briefly the transition of the component parts 
of an army, from a peace to a war footing, so that they may be 
complete in all respects—-men, horses, vehicles, arms, ammunition, 
equipment, stores, &c., and in readiness to take their place “in the 
order of battle.” 
In some cases certain component parts do not exist, as such, in peace 
time, and have to be called into existence on mobilisation. 
To thoroughly understand every detail of procedure, on mobilisation 
being ordered, may be looked upon as the first duty of every Com¬ 
manding and Staff Officer; and it is important to remember that the 
regulated procedure on mobilisation is an immense measure of de¬ 
centralisation, the magnitude of which is even now, scarcely brought 
home to all; it is only by a careful study of the regulations bearing 
on the subject, and questioning oneself closely as to how one would 
proceed on receiving the order to “ mobilise,” that we can arrive at a 
clear idea of how the machinery for mobilisation is called into existence 
or set in motion. 
The success of our mobilisation as a whole depends entirely on the 
thoroughness with which all officers concerned grasp the nature of the 
duties which will fall to them ; and inasmuch as such duties have but 
little connection with the routine duties, and can be but very imper¬ 
fectly rehearsed in peace time, it is a matter of vital importance that 
the subject should be studied so closely, that when the critical time 
arrives everyone may know exactly what he will have to do. 
Mobilisation causes a partial dislocation of peace administration, 
owing to the difference between the organisation of commands for 
peace and war, the immense increase of work which will suddenly be 
thrown upon existing staffs, and the strangeness to their duties and to 
each other of the officers who compose newly created staffs: under 
these circumstances it is clear that mobilisation is not a time to ask 
questions, but rather a time when every officers administrative know¬ 
ledge and organising capacity should suffice for his own immediate 
sphere of action. 
In order to follow out the questions in connection with artillery 
mobilisation, it is desirable to obtain, in the first instance, a thoroughly 
comprehensive view of the organisation of our military forces for defence 
and offence; we shall thus be enabled to understand at once the part 
which each branch is destined to play on mobilisation for home defence 
or foreign service. 
6. VOL. XXI. 
